My Tiny Plot

The first sign of snow down here on mtp and the ground is frozen solid. I managed to get the Dahlia corms up a few days ago and store them under cover. But there’s very little to do right now, except inspect the doormat for raspberry cane deliveries (I’ve ordered ten but no sign yet), re-read my vegetable gardening books, check if my broadbeans are coming up and measure up the beds for new wooden borders for next Spring (Ryan’s job and he’s slacking). So I don’t know about you but I’m twiddling my thumbs a bit. Eager to get started on next year but there’s the small problem of it being too cold to be at the plot for any length of time (my toes were frozen after just 20 mins yesterday - need to upgrade my socks!) and not many vegetables have ‘plant out in December’ written on the seed packets.
Ho-hum!

I should have posted this last week when I did actually sow the Broadbeans but work got the better of me. But never mind that, the Broadbeans are in and I shall watch closely for signs of life over the next few weeks. I bought an Autumn sowing variety called Aquadulce Claudia (ooh very posh). Interestingly enough when I arrived at mtp to sow the aforementioned beans my plot neighbour, David, was there doing exactly the same thing! That’s not unusual in itself but I was very happy that he was sowing broadbeans as that meant I was doing something right. David is my guru. I watch him, I learn, then copy everything he does. I think he’s about 70 years old (he’s never told me his age but from a few hints he’s dropped I’m guessing) and (this is the best bit) he’s grown vegetables on his plot for 30 years. So as I said, I’m watching, learning and copying his every move. Maybe I’ll persuade him to smile for the camera one day!

mtp is the proud owner of a brand new mini poly tunnel (£18.95 Organic Catelogue). It’s about three metres long so not massive but there’s plenty of room for my winter lettuce seedlings (Arctic King). A few days ago I dug in some rotted manure to the bed where the tunnel would be, erected the tunnel the day after to warm up the soil before transplanting four seedlings to the tunnel. They look really small and lost in there but I’m sure they’ll take hold before the brutal frosts come. Hopefully we’ll get at least 10 or 15 lettuce in there and be harvesting them by early next year. I’m not exactly sure what winter lettuce tastes like (just like normal lettuce maybe?). I hope it’s not all chewy because here at Carson Towers we like a lettuce or two.

We’re in Chicago (for both work and pleasure) and it’s a beautiful city. I think it may have become my favourite American city almost overnight. The parks are beautiful, the architecture is amazing, the pancakes are huge and the downtown area is littered with these little garden oasis. They are different for every street. Some have ornamental Cabbage, some chrysanthemums and pansy, while others, like this one I spotted on Michigan Avenue have gone for the tiny allotment look with this Ruby Chard. It makes a great colour splash in the wet weather. There are also pumpkins outside almost every front door, and ornamental gourds made into wreaths and candle holders (in one shop). It’s all very wintry and lovely! Now where are my pumpkin seeds?